Bandits cruise to sixth straight win
AVON, Ohio - Guided by a pair of two-run homers from NPF Player of the Year candidate Brenna Moss and rookie DJ Sanders, the Chicago Bandits secured their sixth consecutive victory with an 9-4 win over the Cleveland Comets on Saturday night at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio.
Moss, who continued to solidify her resume as one of the league's most potent threats at the top of the lineup, delivered her second long ball of the season to erase an early 1-0 deficit. The veteran left fielder collected three hits in the win to bring her team-high total to 58 during the 2018 campaign. Just two players in franchise history have recorded 60 or more hits in a season - Stacy May-Johnson and Megan Wiggins each produced 61 during the 2008 and 2013 seasons, respectively.
Cleveland battled back, however, against Bandits starter Shelby Turnier. The Comets regained a one-run lead in the third before Sanders' blast an inning later gave the Bandits a lead they did not relinquish. The two-run shot marked the former Oregon standout's fourth consecutive game with a home run.
Turnier, meanwhile, surrendered three runs (all earned) on three hits across three innings and did not factor into the decision. The right-hander walked a pair and struck out four before turning the game over to Lacey Waldrop.
Waldrop (W, 3-0) kept the narrow lead intact and tossed two innings out of the bullpen. The veteran right-hander allowed one run and struck out two batters to earn her third win of the season. Bandits second-year hurler Ally Carda picked up save No. 3 to move into a tie for the team lead with Turnier and rookie southpaw Paige Lowary.
Comets rookie Devin Brown suffered the loss despite delivering 6.1 innings of work. The former South Alabama standout dropped to 3-16 on the season.
Stacy May-Johnson, Sammy Marshall and Jessie Scroggins also added multi-hit efforts in the offensive outpour for the Bandits, who amassed 10 or more hits for the fourth straight night against Cleveland.
The Bandits and Comets will conclude their season series Sunday at Sprenger Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast via NPFTV.